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Confronting the interconnection of chemical pollution and climate change

Publication Date
Authors
Author Name
Simona A. Bălan
Author Organization
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Author Name
Saskia K. van Bergen
Author Organization
H2L Consulting
Author Name
Ann Blake
Author Organization
Environmental and Public Health Consulting
Author Name
Topher Buck
Author Organization
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Author Name
Scott Coffin
Author Organization
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Author Name
Jamie C. DeWitt
Author Organization
Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University
Author Name
Gretta Goldenman
Author Organization
Milieu Law & Policy Consulting (retired)
Author Name
Frank A. von Hippel
Author Organization
Department of Community, Environment & Policy, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona
Author Name
Sophia von Hippel
Author Organization
Medical Pharmacology and Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Arizona
Author Name
Christopher P. Leonetti
Author Organization
ICF Incorporated
Author Name
David Rist
Author Organization
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Author Name
Martin Scheringer
Author Organization
Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich
Author Name
Xenia Trier
Author Organization
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Section for Environmental Chemistry and Physics, University of Copenhagen

Climate change and chemical pollution are interdependent planetary threats, but climate change mitigation efforts typically do not consider chemicals and materials. This may exacerbate chemical pollution and associated harm to human and environmental health. Because most chemicals and materials are currently derived from petrochemicals, the extraction of fossil fuels cannot be limited without transitioning chemical manufacturing to different carbon sources. However, simply changing the carbon source is insufficient and could exacerbate the biodiversity crisis. We propose a comprehensive strategy to address the interconnections between chemical pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This includes incentives for key actors to reduce the global production and consumption of chemicals and materials, to transition to chemicals and products that are safe and sustainable by design, to develop metrics and targets to assess progress, and to continuously evaluate and modify strategies based on performance metrics.

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Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
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Planetary Boundaries
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